www.easterncourier.co.nz
Friday, April 15, 2011
Research breakthrough: Stuart Ryan works in the tissue bank at Middlemore Hospital which will provide valuable cancer research.
Photo: NICOLA WILLIAMS
Sampling for a cure
By NICOLA WILLIAMS
'
We are hoping to have
300 donors a year giving
samples and that
will see us very busy.
'
-- Dr Stuart Ryan
A CURE for cancer could be
waiting to be found at
Middlemore Hospital.
Tissue bank staff have
been collecting samples for
research purposes since
December.
Drugs that make the dif-
ference between life and
death have been developed
through tissue sampling,''
general manager Stuart Ryan
says.
A unique feature of the
Middlemore tissue bank is
the collection of ethnic-
specific samples.
Researchers will be able to
investigate the different
effects of current and poten-
tial new cancer therapies on
the Maori and Pacific popu-
lation.
Currently there is very
little knowledge in this area.
When tissue samples are
taken for medical diagnosis
the patient is asked if they
will agree to a portion being
kept at the bank where
material is stored at -80
degrees celsius.
Eighty percent of people
approached have agreed but
the Maori and Pacific popu-
lation hasn't been so keen.
Dr Ryan says reluctance
stems from cultural beliefs
that the body is sacred and
parts of it shouldn't be
separated.
The idea of having a
sample taken for biopsy is
acceptable because it's about
treating a disease, but in
terms of relinquishing a
sample to go somewhere
where they don't know where
it is is quite a cultural issue.
We are working with a
Maori leader to develop edu-
cation material to help people
understand what's trying to
be achieved,'' he says.
His view is that Maori
should not deny themselves
the opportunity to benefit
from research. It has the
potential to provide health
benefits to Maori.''
Thirty-three samples have
been collected since Decem-
ber.
You need to have a certain
critical mass of samples
before you start releasing
them and we haven't reached
that yet,'' Dr Ryan says.
Staff have started by
collecting samples of the most
common types of cancers but
will extend to gathering a
wide range.
We are hoping to have 300
donors a year giving samples
and that will see us very
busy. Within 12 to 18 months
we would have sufficient
samples to make them avail-
able to researchers,'' Dr Ryan
says.
The tissue bank's official
opening on Wednesday marks
its recognition as a nationally
significant research facility.
The Counties Manukau
District Health Board pro-
vided funding for the facility
and the Freemasons are giv-
ing a three-year operational
grant.
Our vision is that this tis-
sue bank not only collects tis-
sue from Counties Manukau
but we grow to be able to
house a collection from across
the Auckland region,'' Dr
Ryan says.
The most important part of
cancer research is the tissue
samples, they are the single
most valuable resource we
can collect.''